Hose-tongs.



Patented De. IZ, IQDI. J. A. BHITTUN.

HOSE TUNES (Application-filed June 20, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Jmes L/.

551g W3 "l @immag- UNITED rares arent JAMES A. BRITTON, OF BETHLEIIEM,PENNSYLVANIA.

HOSE=TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,059, dated December17, 1901.

Application i'lled Jnne 20,1901. Serial No. 65,329. (No modeld To LZZwhom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JAMES A. BRITTON, of Bethlehem, in the county ofNorthampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Hose- Tongs; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inhose-tongs, being particularly designed for use of firemen in cleaningand reeling hose after use at a fire.

The invention has for its object the production of a simple andinexpensive tool by means of which firemen may, after a iire,conveniently grasp and draw a section of hose along the street to thehose-carriage to be washed and reeled, whereby a saving of time andlabor is secured and the necessity of the clothing coming in contactwith the muddy and soiled hose is avoided.

A further object is to provide a combination-tool which will comprisemany advantages to a fire-department in point of utility and durabilityand cheapness.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improvedhose-tongs, showing method of supporting same upon hosecarriage. Fig. 2is a similar View showing tongs open ready to grasp a hose-section. Fig.3 is an edge View.

Referring to the drawings, 10 1l designate two fiat metal bars pivotallyconnected at 12 and having an outwardly curved or flared portion 13,forming when united an approximate Y. Extending from the lower ends ofbars 10 and 1l and in opposite directions to each other are the curvedmembers 14E intermediate. of its end and the pivotal connection 15,designed to encircle a hose, said members having their ends outwardlyflared and pointed, as indicated at 16. From the face of member 14projects a boss or enlargement 17, in which is formed a bore 18,designed to receive the lug of a hose-coupling, whereby the latter maybe tightened or loosened, as desired.

The upper ends of bars 10 1l are enlarged, as indicated at 19, andprovided with openings 20, shaped to receive the nut upon a firehydrant,whereby the same can be readily and quickly opened when desired. Aboveeach enlargement 19 is located the handle 21,.

which is preferably provided with a Wrapping 22 of leather, rubber tape,or the like to protect the hands, said covering being made waterproof bya coating of any suitable varnish. If desired, the curved members 14 15may also be provided with a similar covering to prevent injury to hose.

The operation of my improved tongs is obvious. They are carried upon thefire apparatus in any suitable manner, and upon arrival at a lire thewrench portion 19 is readily available to open the fire-hydrant and turnon the water, while the curved member 1a and its boss or enlargement 17serve as a Spanner to couple oruncouple any section of hose. After afire the hose can be readily grasped by the curved members 14 15, whichare operated through the medium of the handles 21, and conveyed to thehose-carriage. It is 0bvious also that my improved tongs are useful forhandling the hose for any other purpose which may become necessary,.suchas washing, and that the wrench-openings 2O may be of anystandard size.Anotheradvantage lies in the fact that the contiguous faces of the bars10 11 are in frictional contact, so that no exertion is required to holdthe tongs in engagement with the hose after they are once closed, andyet by curving the said bars outward a space is formed whereby the handsof the operator may readily pass each other in opening and closing thetongs. It will also be noted in this connection that when the tongs areclosed the handles come directly opposite each other, whereby but onehand will be required to carry the' same.

From what has been said it will be observed that I have produced asimple and inexpensive combination-tool which possesses many points ofadvantage.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described hosetongs cornprisingtwo bars pivotally connected together, said bars being curved outwardlyin opposite directions above their pivotal connection, and then extendedparallel to each other to form a space between their contiguous faces,handles formed with the upper ends of said bars, opposite curved membersformed with the lower ends of said bars, and a perforated boss orenlargement formed on the inner face of one of said curved membersintermediate of its end and the point of pivotal connection of saidbars, substantially as set forth. A

2. The herein-describedhose-tongs comprising two bars pivotallyconnected together, handles formed on the upper ends of said bars,opposite curved members extending from the lower ends of said bars, anda perforated boss or enlargement formed on the inner face of one of saidcurved members intermediateof its end and the point of pivotalconnection of said bars, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described hose-tongs oomlower ends of said bars, aprotectiugr-wrappingv for each of said handles and said curved bars, anda coating of waterproof material for said wrappings substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A. BRITTON.

Vitnesses:

GEO. L. BAUM, WILLIAM J. FINK.

